Valve-operating mechanism for steam-traps.



w. T. POWERS. VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM FOR STEAM TRAPS. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17, 1907.

967,432. Patented Aug. 16,1910.

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WILLIAM T. POWERS, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

VALVE-OPERATING MECHANISM FOR STEAM-TRAPS.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 16, 1910.

Application filed August 17, 1907. Serial No. 388,996.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. POWERS, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Valve-Operating Mechanisms for Steam-Traps, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in valve operating mechanisms for steam traps, and similar devices in which the valve is controlled primarily by the rise and fall of the water in the trap or tank to regulate the outflow of water from the trap, or it may be used to regulate the inflow or outflow, or both, to and from any reservoir or receptacle where such float-controlled device may be useful.

The essential object of my present inven tion is to provide means whereby the valve is held full-open, or full-closed during the inflow or exit of the float-actuating liquid, or until such float reaches the extreme limits of its movement so as to prevent cutting of the valve or its seat by fine jets of water and the usual accompanying hissing noise, due to the gradual closing or opening of the valve, as in most of the float-actuated valves now in general use.

Other objects and uses relating to the spe ciflc construction and arrangement of the various parts of my invention will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings-Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a side elevation and a top plan of my improved regulator, as applied to steam traps and similar devices, in which it is desired to intermittently discharge accumulating water, or other liquid, when it reaches a predetermined level, the valve-controlling mechanism being shown in position to hold the valve full-open, while the float is shown in its extreme upper position. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, similar to Fig. 1, except that the float is shown in its extreme down-position, and the valve closed.

In the figures I have shown a collecting chamber or tank 1- as provided with an inlet pipe 2 and an outlet-pipe -3-, the inlet pipe serving to supply water of condensation or other liquid to the interior of the tank -1-, while the outlet-pipe -3- is a medium through which water can be discharged from the tank at intervals, as controlled by a float-actuated valve mechanism, hereinafter described. In this particular instance, the inner terminal end of the outlet pipe 3 is provided with a valve-seat 4 co-acting with a valve 5 to control the outlet of the water or other liquid from the tank -1. The valve -5- is formed upon the lower end of a valve rod -6 having an adjustable sleeve 7- thereon, which is guided in a bearing -8-, forming a part of the main supporting frame -9. This sleeve is provided at its upper end with a weight -10, and is also formed with an annular shoulder -l1, the weight 10 serving as a means for automatically closing the valve -5 when released by its controlling mechanism, while the shoulder 11 cooperates with a detent -12- to hold the valve open against the action of the weight 10- until the detent is tripped by the float-actuated mechanism hereinafter described. The object in making the sleeve -7-- and its weight --10 adjustable is to permit the shoulder '-11- to be properly adjusted relatively to the detent 12 and also to permit thevalve and its rod -6- to be properly adjusted relatively to its seat. The detent 12- is made in the form of a bell-crank lever pivoted at 13 and having a laterally projecting arm provided with a weight 14., whereby the detent 12 is automatically held in position to interlock with the shoulder -11 when the valve -5-- is raised or opened against the action of the weight "10-, This detent is provided. with a pendent arm or shoulder -15- adapted to be engaged by a shoulder -16- on a weighted rock-arm 17- which rock arm is fulcrumed at 18- upon the main supporting frame -9- and such rock-arm is provided at the rear of its fulcrum with a lifting shoulder -19- adapted to engage a shoulder -20 on the lower end of the sleeve -7- to raise the valve against the action of the weight 10 when the weighted end of the lever -17 descends by its own gravity as will be presently described. This lever 17- extends some distance to one side of the valve rod -6- and fulcrum -18-, and is provided with an adjustable weight "21 and a shoulder 22-. This shoulder is located between the fulcrum -18- and weight -2l and is engaged by a detent -2$- to hold the weighted end of the lever -17 in its extreme up-position latter having a against the action of the weight 21-.

When in this-position the shoulder -16- engages the shoulder and trips the detent 12 to releasethe Weighted val'v'e rod 6- and permit the valve 5' to close by its own gravity assisted by the weight 10. This adapted to be 'voi-r l.-siitficiently to elevate the float 2 8 ,--the float lever 27 is thereby elevated a predetermined distance before as the latter is'raised it tripping the detent 23-. The arm -25 lies in the path of the shoulder ''26, and, elevates the ar'm' -25-,"thereby rocking the detent 23' out of engagem'ent'witlr the shoulder 22' of the lever 17' and allowing the weight 21- to fall and rock the lever downwardly, therebybringing the shoulder 19" into contact with the lower end of the sleeve -7 to elevate or open the Valve +5 against the action of the" weight '-10 and atthe same time Withdrawing the shoulder --I6f from the pendent arm of the detent V 12- and allowing the weight ll' to the water will, of course,

' weighted IeveriY float 28 and its supporting lever 27 to drop by gravity, the short arm -27- engages the shoulder 30 and elevates the weighted lever +17. When the-float operates to-the limit of its downward-move ment',-the detent23 gravitates into holding engagement with the shoulder 22 to hold the lever '17 in its up-position. I

Asthe wate'rlever 17 is moved into position to belooked by the detent '23, the shoulder 16 engages the shoulder l 5' and tripsthe detent 12-out of holding engagement with the sleeve 7 thus permitting the weight -10 to automatically close the lever 5.'

The shoulder 27+ of the lever 27' is located at the side of its fulcrum opposite to that to whichthe fl'oat-28' is secured,

detent 23 is f llerumed at 24l upon the main supporting frame 9, and is provided with a rearwardly projecting arm 25 which is engagedand elevated by a shoulder 26. one float lever 27 the secured thereto. at 29 upon the main supporting franie9 between the fulcrum -l8''and detent "23, and whenthe waiter accumulates in the reserand being very much nearer to the fulcrun'i than the float the weight and leverage of the float end of the lever 27 is sufficient to elevate theweighted end of the lever 17 against the action of the weight -21 as the water recedes in the tank and allows the float to drop. The shoulder -27 and its co-actingslioulder30- on the lever 1.T are located. substantially midway between andf'nea rl y in the same horizontal plane as 1 the fulcrums 'l8 and-29+, and when the lever -17 is "thus elevated, the shoulders 22 and co-acting shoulder of the detent 2 3 are also nearly in the same horizont'al plane as said fulcrums, the same being true of'the shoulders 19 and -20,

which reduces the friction between these parts of the mechanism, and thereby renders the action easier. A very slight movement of the float by the inflowing water will cause the shoulder '26' to trip the detent '23, and thereby release the lever 17, which falls by its own gravity and opens the valve is held by the detent -12 full-open at once, in which position it until the tank is practically empty. The lever 17 is limited in its downward movement by an adj ustablc 1 stop -50 on the main frame '9' to regulate the degree of elevation of the valve 5 so as to bring the shoulder ll into Z proper position to interlock with the detent The valve 5' and levers 17+ and --27 are self-acting in one direction; as

being depressed by its for instance, downwardly, the valve 5 own gravity asslsted by the weight l0, and the lever 17 is :also depressed by its own gravity assisted heel of the lever by the weight 21, while the lever 27 is depressed by its own gravity, assisted by the additional weight of the float 28.

The extension 27 may be termed, the 27 and operates on the under side of the lever l7' between the fulcrums 18- and 29- to elevate the lever 17 as the lever 27 is depressed. It is evident thatth'e lever 17 may be moved upwardly without imparting any movement to the valve and that the lever 27- may also be actuated upwardly by the float and entering liquid without operating the lever 17, although in havinginlet and 1 ing valve for one the upwardmovement of bothlevcrs, the dctents l2 and 23' are tripped.

VhatI claim is: 1. In combination with-a liquid re'ce )tacle outlet passages, a selt-closof said passages, a weight- I ed lever operated by its own gravity to open I the valve, a detent I its open-position, a

for holding the valve in float lever fulcrumed at "one side of the fulcrum of the weighted lever and operated by its own gravity to elevate theweighted lever independently of the valve, said levers engaging each other between their fulcrums, means actuated by the elevation of the weighted lever for tripping the detent and allowing the valve to close, a second detent for holding the weighted lever in its elevated position, a float actuated by the inflow of liquid into the receptacle for elevating the float lever independently of the weighted lever, and means brought into action by the elevation of the float lever for tripping the second detent whereby the weighted lever is allowed to fall by gravity for opening the valve.

2. In combination with a receptacle hav ing inlet and outlet passages, a self-closing valve for the outlet, a weighted lever acting by its own gravity to open the valve against its own weight, a detent for holding the valve in its open-position, a second lever acting by its own weight to elevate the weighted lever, said levers being it'ulcrumed side by side to swing on different axes and engaging each other between their it'ulcrums, means brought into action by the elevation of the weighted lever for tripping the detent, and a float actuated by the inflowing liquid for elevating said weighted lever.

3. In combination with a liquid receptacle having inlet and outlet passages, a valve for one of said passages operated automatically to one position, a weighted lever operated by its own gravity to move the valve to another position, a detent for holding the valve in the last named position, a float lever for elevating the weighted lever, said levers being fulcrumed side by side to swing on different axes and engaging each other between said axes, and means brought into action by the elevation of the weighted lever to trip the detent and allow the valve to move to the first named position.

4. In combination with a liquid receptacle having inlet and outlet passages, a valve for one of said passages operated automatically to one position, a weighted lever operated by its own gravity to move the valve to another position, a detent for holding the valve in the last named position, a float lever operated by its own gravity to elevate the weighted lever, said levers being fulcrumed side by side to swing on different axes and engaging each other between said axes, means brought into action by the elevation of the weighted lever for tripping the detent and allowing the valve to take its first named position, a second detent for holding the weighted lever in its elevated position, a float actuated by the inflowing liquid for elevating the float lever, and means brought into action by the elevation of the float lever for tripping the second detent and allowing the weighted lever to descend for moving the valve to its second position.

5. In combination with a liquid receptacle having an inlet passage and an outlet passage, a self-closing valve for one of the passages, a weighted lever operating by its own gravity to open the valve, a detent for holding the valve in its open position, and means including a float lever controlled by the outflow of the liquid in the receptacle for elevating the weighted lever, said levers being fulcrumed side by side to swing on dif ferent axes and engaging each other be tween their fulcrunis, and additional means brought into action by the elevation of the lever for tripping said detent.

6. In combination with a liquid receptacle having an inlet and an outlet passage, a selfclosing valve for one of the passages, a weighted lever operating by its own gravity to open the valve, a detent for holding the valve in its open position, a float lever operating by its own gravity to elevate the weighted lever, said levers being fulcrumed side by side and engaging each other between their fulcrums, means brought into action by the weighted lever for tripping the detent, a second detent for holding the weighted lever in its elevated position, and a float actuated by the inflowing liquid for elevating the float lever, and means brought into action by the elevation of the float lever for tripping the second detent.

7. In a valve operating mechanism for steam traps, a discharge valve having an upright stem a shoulder on the stem, a weighted lever engaging said shoulder to open the valve when the weighted lever falls, a detent for engaging and holding the valve stem in its up-position independently of the weighted lever, a float and means controlled thereby for elevating the weighted lever against the action of its weight, and actuated by the weighted lever for tripping said detent and allowing the valve to close.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of August. 1907.

WILLIAM T. POWERS. Witnesses:

H. E. CHASE, M. M. No'r'r. 

